Faster pathway to care improves odds for lung cancer patients

A new lung cancer clinic at Townsville University Hospital has slashed treatment times for north Queensland patients fighting the deadly disease by up to 80 per cent. 

Clinical director of medical oncology Dr Abhishek Joshi said the rapid access lung cancer clinic had reduced the wait, from diagnosis to treatment, by two weeks. 

“If a patient’s diagnosis is discussed at our clinic meeting on Thursday, their specialist consult and treatment planning starts in three days on Monday,” Dr Joshi said. 

“Before the rapid access clinic, this wait was up to two weeks.” 

Mackay resident Allan Morrison was struggling to keep weight on, and his hacking cough was getting worse when he booked into his local GP. 

An x-ray confirmed a mass on his right lung, and he was referred to Townsville University Hospital for urgent treatment. 

Mr Morrison is one of the first patients treated in the new rapid access lung cancer clinic. 

“I first met Dr Joshi in a phone consultation when I was first diagnosed three months ago and then came up to Townsville and I’ve been here ever since,” he said. 

“I’m missing the grandkids, but Dr Joshi and all the doctors and nurses have been very good. 

“And I’m surprised at how good I’m feeling all things considered.” 

Dr Joshi said Mr Morrison was diagnosed in Mackay with a Stage 3 lung cancer and referred to TUH. 

“We knew from our meeting with the Mackay team via telehealth that the best approach for Mr Morrison would be chemotherapy and radiotherapy,” he said. 

“Through the rapid access clinic, we were able to fast-track him to Townsville and reduce the time from diagnosis to treatment considerably. 

“It’s not just about improving the prognosis, it’s improving the whole patient experience by reducing the time spent waiting anxiously to start treatment, the time away from family, and the impact of side-effects.” 

Dr Joshi said the lung cancer journey was complex, involving multiple teams. 

“We felt for a long time that there were gaps and one of the main delays was the time from first investigations to patients arriving at our clinic,” he said. 

“Shortening this timeframe for patients with advanced disease is essential because they can deteriorate very rapidly, and lose the window of opportunity to have effective, life-prolonging
treatment.” 

Dr Joshi said the benefits of the clinic for rural patients were particularly significant. 

“We know rural patients are on the lower end of the health equity spectrum so cutting down treatment time means they can be treated earlier with better outcomes.” 

Dr Joshi said lung cancer was one of the highest causes of mortality in Australian men. 

“We are also seeing more cases in women because of the smoking take-up in the 70s and 80s which is translating now,” he said. 

Dr Joshi said the rapid access clinic involved medical and radiation oncologists, respiratory specialists, cardio-thoracic surgeons, clinical nurses, and cancer care coordinators led by his colleague Dr Zulifquer Otty. 

“Dr Otty, who is the chair of this multidisciplinary group, played a pivotal role in establishing this clinic,” Dr Joshi said.  

“This coordinated team led by Dr Otty is reducing bottlenecks and streamlining the care of patients with lung cancer in our region. 

“I couldn’t be prouder of the team’s dedication.”